Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Sudan: Humanitarian Aid

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 30 January (HL4652) concerning Sir Simon McDonald’s meetings with senior government figures in Khartoum, whether Sudan's refusal to grant humanitarian access to the Two Areas was discussed; and if so, what was the outcome of those discussions.

baroness anelay of st johns: ​Further to my written answer in HL4652, we continue to urge both sides to fully engage in the African Union-led peace process, including by reaching lasting agreements on a full cessation of hostilities and unrestricted humanitarian access. Most recently, during the visit of the UK Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan to Khartoum, the Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on 24 January reconfirmed the government of Sudan's commitment to an international proposal for improving humanitarian access to the Two Areas of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. We continue to urge the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North to agree to these proposals to guarantee medical support directly to the areas under their control as a way to unblock a broader agreement on longer term access.

Sudan: Religious Freedom

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Sudan about the life sentence imposed on the Czech aid worker Petr Jasek, and the imprisonment of Reverend Hassan Abduraheem Kodi Taour and Abdulmonem Abdumawla; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which the court proceedings met internationally accepted standards of justice and were in accordance with the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

baroness anelay of st johns: We are deeply concerned by the verdict in the case against Pastor Hassan Abduelraheen Kodi, Petr Jasek, and Abdulmonem Abdumawlla. We are aware that the defendants have the right to appeal. Officials from our Embassy in Khartoum were present in court for the verdict, and together with our international partners, coordinated attendance at all hearings since the defendants' initial arrest. We have regularly raised our concerns over this case directly with the government of Sudan, most recently on 22 January; and we will continue to do so as part of our ongoing human rights dialogue.We call on all countries to comply with their international human rights obligations. We support the work of the UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan to assess efforts undertaken by the government to respond to recommendations made in this context.

International Criminal Court

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to (1) the call of the African Union (AU), made at its annual heads of state summit in Addis Ababa, for the mass withdrawal of member states from the International Criminal Court (ICC), and (2) that part of the Addis Ababa Resolution that mandates the AU to hold talks with the UN Security Council calling for the reform of the ICC.

baroness anelay of st johns: We regret the decision of any State Party to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC). We encourage any country considering leaving the ICC to discuss its concerns with fellow States Parties or directly with the Court.We are aware of the draft decision at the AU Summit 22-31 January to adopt an "ICC withdrawal strategy". Our understanding is that the strategy does not actually call for mass withdrawal. It is a matter for each African state, and several African states reaffirmed their support for the Court.The resolution is still in draft and we will be able to comment further once that becomes final.

Iraq: Islamic State

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to rebuild inter-communal trust in areas liberated from Daesh in Iraq.

baroness anelay of st johns: We are supporting the Iraqi Government’s efforts to rebuild public trust in the Iraqi State and to unite all of Iraq's communities against extremism. We consistently urge the Government of Iraq to take concrete steps towards inclusive and representative local governance, capable of providing basic services and protection. The UK has pledged £9.25 million to the UN's Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation, which is supporting the Iraqi Government to stabilise areas liberated from Daesh. This funding is re-establishing security and basic services, re-creating livelihoods and supporting grassroots reconciliation. Since June 2015, it has helped 862,000 people return to their homes across Iraq. The Secretary of State for International Development, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Priti Patel) also announced a further £40 million in humanitarian assistance for Iraq at the UN General Assembly on 21 September 2016, specifically to support the response to Mosul.

Iraq: Religious Freedom

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Iraq to repeal legislation that forces children of parents who convert to Islam automatically to become Muslim.

baroness anelay of st johns: ​We have concerns with Article 26 of the National Identity Card Law as it limits an individual’s freedom of religion. The President of Iraq objected to the clause and although the law was signed, the clause has been referred back to the Council of Representatives for reconsideration, but so far no action has been taken by the Council. We have made clear our concerns to the Government of Iraq. We are working alongside Non-Governmental Organisations, such as the Iraqi Council for Interfaith Dialogue, to continue to promote freedom of religion and belief in Iraq.

Iraq: Religious Freedom

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what political and financial assistance they are providing to strengthen and develop the structures and mechanisms for interreligious dialogue and co-operation in Iraq.

baroness anelay of st johns: The UK Government promotes interreligious dialogue and co-operation in Iraq and the right to freedom of religion or belief for all of Iraq’s religious communities. At the political level, we urge the Government of Iraq consistently at senior levels to uphold the rights of all minorities. We also work to build international consensus on upholding freedom of religion or belief. In addition, we support practical projects on community dialogue with civil society and faith groups. For example, through the Foreign Office’s Magna Carta Fund, we have contributed £163,000 to support a project across several countries in the Middle East, including Iraq, to promote legal and social protection for freedom of religion or belief. This project aims to prevent intolerance and violence towards religious communities by inspiring leaders in Iraqi society to defend freedom of religion or belief.

Burma: Human Rights

baroness helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of UN reports related to alleged human rights violations perpetrated by Myanmar security forces in northern Rakhine State.

baroness anelay of st johns: We are concerned by UN reports of human rights violations committed by the military in Rakhine state. We have repeatedly urged for a restrained security response, an independent investigation into allegations of human rights abuses and the immediate resumption of humanitarian access.During his recent visit to Burma, the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), met State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as well as military-appointed government ministers, and expressed our deep concerns about the current situation in Rakhine. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Alok Sharma), also raised this situation in Rakhine with the Burmese Speaker of Parliament when he visited London on 24 January 2017.Given our concerns with the human rights situation in Burma, we will advocate with our EU and International partners the renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma at the Human Rights Council in February and March.

Burma: Sexual Offences

baroness helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to allegations of rape and sexual violence committed against civilians in northern Rakhine state by Myanmar security forces; and what representations they have made to the government of Myanmar in this regard.

baroness anelay of st johns: We are concerned by reports of sexual violence in areas of conflict in Burma and allegations of human rights abuses in Rakhine state. We continue to raise our concerns with the Burmese Government.As the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, I visited Burma in November 2016 and raised our concerns about conflict-related sexual violence during my meetings with Government Ministers. With the Burmese Defence Minister, I pressed the military for the resumption of humanitarian aid access in Rakhine and on handling allegations of sexual violence in a thorough and transparent manner.

Burma: Sexual Offences

baroness helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much was provided in funding for Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative programmes implemented by the UK embassy in Myanmar over each of the last three years; and how much funding is projected to be provided until 2020.

baroness anelay of st johns: The Embassy in Rangoon funds a number of programmes in support of the Preventing Sexual Violence initiative. A total of £439,954 has been spent since 2014, including £204,012 in 2014-2015, £165,857 in 2015-2016 and £70,091 in 2016-2017.Expenditure on this initiative for 2017-2018 is expected to be £325,000. In addition, a large part of the £102 million Department for International Development programme in Burma supports the women, peace and security agenda.

Balkans: Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

baroness helic: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans are in place to maintain the current level of Conflict, Stability and Security Fund funding for the Balkans over the next three years; and which countries will be affect by any proposed changes to the funding.

baroness anelay of st johns: Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) allocations are confirmed on an annual basis with provisional allocations for future years. From April 2017 and over the next three financial years the Western Balkans allocation is currently flat. However, the National Security Council reviews allocations each year, and may decide to increase or decrease funding to balance the range of Government priorities that the CSSF supports.

Palestinians

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are providing funding for (1) efforts to promote a comprehensive Palestinian negotiating team, and (2) Palestinian elections at all levels of government.

baroness anelay of st johns: ​We have previously funded legal, policy and communications expertise for the Palestinian Liberation Organisation’s Negotiations Affairs Department. This funding ended in 2015. We continue to advocate the resumption of bilateral negotiations to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.We are not currently providing funding for Palestinian elections. Previously, we have supported women’s participation, working with women to help prepare them to compete in elections, and to help them serve their communities most effectively when elected.

Palestinians: Recognition of States

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their responsibilities under the Balfour Declaration of 1917 include the recognition of a Palestinian State as well as the Israeli one.

baroness anelay of st johns: The UK will recognise a Palestinian state at a time most helpful to the peace process. We judge that a negotiated end to the occupation is the most effective way for Palestinian aspirations of statehood to be met. We continue to be one of the principal supporters of Palestinian state building efforts, assisting them to tackle poverty, build institutions, and boost their economy.

Bahrain: Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund was used to support a visit by the Chief of Police of Bahrain to Belfast to learn about how the Police Service of Northern Ireland manages public order issues.

baroness anelay of st johns: The Bahraini Chief of Police, Major General Tariq Al Hassan, visited Northern Ireland in June 2014 to observe and discuss the range of reforms to policing undertaken in Northern Ireland. The visit was funded from the Conflict Pool.A small delegation of Bahrain police officers subsequently visited Northern Ireland for a week in August 2015 to observe globally recognised best practice in human rights compliant public order policing. This visit was funded from the Conflict, Stability and Security FundThe UK continues to support Bahraini-led reform through a package of technical assistance. We believe it is not good enough to criticise countries from the sidelines. Only by working with Bahrain can we bring about the changes we would like to see in the country. Any assistance delivered by or on behalf of the UK Government complies with our domestic and international human rights obligations.

Diplomatic Relations

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the apology issued by the Israeli embassy over its interference in British politics, what measures they have put in place to ensure that no foreign government's embassy can behave in this way again.

baroness anelay of st johns: We are unable to comment on hypothetical situations, we will manage incidents when they occur and respond accordingly. The Israeli Ambassador has apologised, and is clear that the recent comments made by a former member of staff at the Israeli Embassy do not reflect the views of either the Embassy or Government of Israel. The UK Government considers the matter closed.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding the 15-year sentence imposed in March 2003 on the Palestinian teenagers from the village of Hares.

baroness anelay of st johns: Whilst we have not raised this issue with the Israeli Government, we regularly discuss matters concerning the treatment of Palestinian minors in detention with the Israeli authorities.

Israeli Settlements

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Prime Minister, at her meeting with the Prime Minister of Israel, will raise concerns about the continuing illegal settlement building, and UN Resolution 2334.

baroness anelay of st johns: When the Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), met the Prime Minister of Israel on 6 February they discussed the Middle East Peace Process and the UK’s firm commitment to a two-state solution as the best way to bring stability and peace to the region. The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s opposition to settlement activity.

Burma: Rohingya

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights mission to Bangladesh concerning Rohingyas fleeing from Myanmar, published on 3 February.

baroness anelay of st johns: We are concerned by UN reports of human rights violations committed by the military in Rakhine state. We understand that since 9 October at least 66,000 refugees have fled across the border into Bangladesh.We have repeatedly urged for a restrained security response in Rakhine, an independent investigation into allegations of human rights abuses and the immediate resumption of humanitarian access. During his recent visit to Burma, the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), met State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as well as military-appointed Government Ministers, and expressed our deep concern about the current situation in Rakhine and the situation of the refugees. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Alok Sharma), raised this situation in Rakhine with the Burmese Speaker of Parliament when he visited London on 24 January 2017. I also raised these issues with Burmese Ministers during my visit to Burma last November.We are currently taking action with EU and International partners ahead of the Human Rights Council in March to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur under an Item 4 Resolution. Her role has been critical in documenting human rights violations by the security forces in Rakhine.

Egypt: Crimes of Violence

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Egypt about the recent murders of, and violence against, Egyptian Copts; and what discussions they have had with that government regarding effective measures to prevent sectarian and politically motivated attacks.

baroness anelay of st johns: Combating sectarian violence in Egypt is a shared strategic objective for the Egyptian and UK Governments. Following the attack against El-Botrosiya Church on 11 December 2016, the Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) wrote to the President of Egypt to express her deep condolences and reiterate the UK's support for Egypt in its fight against terrorism. The UK Government continues to work closely with the Egyptian authorities on security and counter-terrorism, including through training Egyptian officers in countering improvised explosive devices and close protection.The UK Government has been clear that freedom of religious belief needs to be protected and that the ability to worship in peace is a vital component of a democratic society. We are concerned about recent reports of sectarian violence in Egypt, and welcome President Sisi's consistent calls for peaceful coexistence and the government of Egypt's expression of support for the rights of Christians and for religious tolerance.

Libya: Politics and Government

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take, following the EU Council held in Malta, to (1) secure political agreement within Libya, (2) protect effectively the migrants and refugees in Libya, and (3) start investments, under the EU External Investment Plan, for new work opportunities in migrants' home countries.

baroness anelay of st johns: The UK remains committed to the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA). An inclusive political deal negotiated within the framework of the LPA is the best way of stabilising Libya and is the best option for delivering our migration priorities.The UK is helping migrants return home rather than risk their lives continuing perilous journeys to Europe, and protecting men, women and children in danger of trafficking and sexual violence. The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) announced a new package of more than £30 million in UK aid to provide desperately needed assistance to refugees and migrants, including supporting returns, addressing trafficking and sexual violence and providing cold weather clothing and medical care.At the heart of the Department for International Development's new economic development strategy is creating jobs for people in their home countries and regions. This will help them meet their aspirations without the need to take the perilous journeys to Europe. The EU External Investment Plan's fund is not yet operational and the proposal is currently making its way through the EU legislative process. The UK will remain engaged as the proposal is developed.

Libya: Banks

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made at EU level on the role of the Libyan Central Bank and its use of oil revenues.

baroness anelay of st johns: I discussed Libya at the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in Brussels on 6 February. The UK supported the FAC’s conclusions on Libya, which welcomed progress made at recent Libyan economic dialogue meetings. We joined EU Member States in calling on all participants, including the Central Bank of Libya, to fully implement their agreement to keep the legitimate economy functioning, ensure the necessary funds for government activities and end the liquidity crisis. We noted with the Council that the welcome increase in oil production should enable the Libyan Government to deliver public services more effectively.

Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will set up a dedicated webpage for the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

baroness anelay of st johns: The Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) is working to ensure that relevant summarised programme documentation is published for the Financial Year 2017/2018 onwards. All documents will be published on the .Gov.UK website in a section clearly identified as for the CSSF.

Burma: Rohingya

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report Interviews with Rohingyas fleeing from Myanmar since 9 October 2016, whether they will support the UN in setting up an inquiry into human rights violations against the Rohingya.

baroness anelay of st johns: We have called repeatedly for an independent investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Rakhine. The UN High Commissioner for Human rights has already issued a substantive report on the widespread and alarming level human rights violations carried out by the military Rakhine State since 9 October. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Burma also referred to them in her briefing following her visit in January. Her full report is due out in March ahead of the Human Rights Council, at which we will advocate for a full renewal of her mandate. In the light of the two reports we will also consider, with our EU and international partners, what scope there is for further enhancing scrutiny of the military's actions in RakhineWe support the Rakhine Advisory Commission led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, which is due to report in the summer. This has the support of the Burmese Government and the international community, and therefore represents the most realistic way forward.In the meantime, we strongly urge the Burmese military to show restraint and to permit humanitarian access to the affected areas.

Department for Exiting the European Union

EU Institutions

lord balfe: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff are employed in EU agencies located in the UK which will be required to relocate from the UK; and of this total, how many of them are British staff and how many come from other EU countries.

lord balfe: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which EU agencies located in the UK will be affected by Britain's withdrawal from the EU.

lord balfe: To ask Her Majesty’s Government at what point they envisage that EU agencies located in the UK will be required to relocate; and whether this will be effected within the two years set for the Brexit negotiations.

lord bridges of headley: No decisions have been taken about the location of the UK based EU Agencies: the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority.As part of the exit negotiations the Government will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of medicines and banking regulation in the best interests of both the UK and the EU. It would not be appropriate to prejudge the outcome of the negotiations.

EU Law

lord lester of herne hill: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to publish a White Paper on the Great Repeal Bill.

lord bridges of headley: The Government will bring forward a White Paper on the Great Repeal Bill in advance of introduction of the Great Repeal Bill in the next session. It will set out our approach to giving effect to withdrawal on the domestic statute book.

European Court of Justice

lord lester of herne hill: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to seek to protect the rights of audience in the European Court of Justice for members of the UK legal professions following the UK's exit from the EU.

lord bridges of headley: The Government will seek a new and ambitious Free Trade Agreement to ensure the UK has the greatest possible tariff- and barrier-free trade with the EU, including trade in legal services. The arrangements that will apply following the UK's exit are subject to the wider negotiations on our future relationship with the EU.

Social Security: Reciprocal Arrangements

baroness thomas of winchester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek reciprocal arrangements on social security schemes with EU member states after the UK leaves the EU.

lord bridges of headley: The current arrangements with member states will be subject to our negotiations with the EU. The Government is considering the various options that may be available and it would be wrong to set out unilateral positions in advance of the negotiation process. At every step of these negotiations we will work to ensure the best outcome possible for the UK.

Department for International Development

Iraq: Overseas Aid

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that humanitarian, stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in areas of Iraq liberated from Daesh include provision for psycho-social post-trauma counselling and rehabilitation for traumatised individuals and communities.

lord bates: In areas of Iraq recently liberated by Daesh the UK is supporting UNICEF to provide lifesaving response services for victims of gender based violence, and the International Organisation for Migration to deliver general clinical and trauma care, including mental health services. The UK is the largest contributor to the Iraq Humanitarian Pooled Fund, which responds to the most urgent needs of vulnerable Iraqis. This has included psychosocial support services for over 2,700 people, and referrals to specialist legal services for hundreds of survivors of torture and sexual violence.

Iraq: Overseas Aid

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to enlist the help of churches, religious institutions and communities in the provision of aid and support to those individuals in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq who have fled their homes to escape Daesh.

lord bates: Faith-based organisations in Iraq are able to access UK funding through the UN-managed Iraq Humanitarian Pooled Fund, to which the UK is the largest donor. UK officials have met with faith-based organisations to discuss the humanitarian situation and to provide guidance on how to access the fund. UK Officials in the Kurdistan region are in regular contact with the Christian, Yezidi, and Muslim community leaders, and have participated in a Religious Dialogue Conference where all religions of the Kurdistan region were represented. All UK-funded humanitarian aid in the Kurdistan Region is distributed on the basis of need, irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity.

Iraq: Humanitarian Aid

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the current humanitarian situation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the existing levels of international donor support.

lord bates: The Kurdistan region hosts over one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 230,000 Syrian refugees. A combination of the economic downturn in Iraq and IDP numbers has placed pressure on services in the region. The UN’s 2016 Humanitarian Response Plan was developed in coordination with both the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government and has received strong donor support. It has so far received 90% of the funds needed to provide life-saving assistance to 7.3 million vulnerable Iraqis, including those living in the Kurdistan region. The UN will launch a new Humanitarian Response Plan for 2017 later this month.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are planning to undertake a comprehensive review of the current needs of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, Jordan and Lebanon.

lord bates: The Secretary of State is currently conducting an examination of DFID’s programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). It will look at how best to meet the needs of Palestinians, including refugees in the region.

UN Commission on the Status of Women

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contribution they will be making to the 61st session of the Commission on the Status of Women taking place in New York from 13 to 24 March; and what efforts the Department for International Development will make to raise issues affecting older women in developing countries.

lord bates: A key objective for Her Majesty’s Government at the Commission on the Status of Women is to ensure that global standards on the rights of all women and girls are protected and progressed. We recognise that particular issues are faced by older women, and are committed to ensuring that the issues affected girls and women across their lifecycle are addressed.

Developing Countries: Older People

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent the Department for International Development considered the contribution that older women and men make to the economies of developing countries in the preparation of its first Economic Development Strategy, published on 31 January.

lord bates: The Economic Development Strategy has drawn on country-specific analysis of the constraints to inclusive growth. The Strategy highlights a strong commitment to economic growth that brings benefits across society. It recognises the economic contribution of all groups in society as well as the costs of discrimination and exclusion.

Developing Countries: Older People

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent the Department for International Development is considering the levels of poverty faced by older women and men in developing countries as part of its implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals commitment to leave no one behind.

lord bates: DFID’s country offices analyse levels of poverty, including as experienced by older people, but better data on ageing is vital. DFID’s Data Disaggregation Action Plan will strengthen data on ageing. DFID is working with the UK’s Office for National Statistics to convene a UN City Group on Ageing and Age to improve national and international data on ageing by strengthening the capacity of National Statistical Offices in partner countries and developing and promoting minimum standards on age data in programmes.

Department for Education

Regional Schools Commissioners

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total cost of Regional Schools Commissioners.

lord nash: The current combined annual gross basic salaries of the eight Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) totals £1,203,173.

Ministry of Defence

Tanks

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Army's Ajax tanks require dismantling before they can be accommodated on transport aircraft.

earl howe: There are a number of options available for the air transportation of Ajax across the world, including the A400M and C-17 aircraft. The vehicle is designed to be modular and parts can be removed for this very purpose; this is not unusual and does not cause any issue.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Cattle: Hormone Treatments

lord jopling: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the scientific study commissioned by the European Commission in the 1980s on the possible threat to the public from the implantation of growth-promoting hormones in cattle, which was not published at the time when the EU ban on the practice was imposed, has ever been made publicly available.

lord gardiner of kimble: The report does not appear to have been made publicly available.   The European Commission published a study in 2002 by the EU Scientific Committee on Veterinary Measures relating to public health in 2002. This Opinion, and other recent scientific literature was considered by the UK independent Veterinary Products Committee, which consulted on the report and published it in 2006.

Dog Fighting: Prosecutions

lord hoyle: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prosecutions took place in relation to dog fighting in England and Wales in (1) 2014, (2) 2015, and (3) 2016.

lord gardiner of kimble: 10 defendants were proceeded against for dog fighting offences in England and Wales in 2014, and 21 defendants were proceeded against in 2015. Data for 2016 is planned for publication in May 2017. This information was obtained from a manual review of court case files that centrally held data indicated may be relevant, and as such has not been through the same quality assurance processes as for routinely published data. These figures relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Communities and Local Government: Reviews

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (HL4332) on 16 January, what is the status of a review announced in Parliament by a Minister of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: As I said in my answer to question HL4332, the department has no formal definition of a review. When a Minister of the Department for Communities and Local Government announces “a review” in Parliament, this generally refers to a commitment to consider whether a particular policy or programme will meet a stated intention or whether action should be taken accordingly. When a review is announced in this way, progress is reported to Parliament by way of ministerial statements, replies to parliamentary questions, or in debate contributions by Ministers.For example, progress of the review into breaches of the Code of Recommend Practice on Local Authority Publicity was reported to the House in HLWS308 on 2 December 2016, and the outcome of the Homes and Communities Agency Tailored Review was reported to the House in HLWS293 on 30 November 2016.On other occasions, the department conducts internal reviews into policy and then informs Parliament of the actions we will take. For example, on 21 November 2016, in HLWS274, I informed the House that following a review into the Government’s policy requiring local authorities to set higher rents for higher income council tenants, we decided not to proceed with a mandatory approach.

Non-domestic Rates

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the criteria used to determine the increase in rateable value as regards business rates in the recent rates revaluation.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Business rates are based on valuations from the Valuation Office Agency and we do not intervene in their independent assessments. Rateable values are assessed to consistent standards and generally reflect the open market rental value of the property. And it is for the Valuation Office Agency to decide how to apply these standards to the circumstances of each property. A £3.6 billion transitional relief scheme will provide support for the minority who do face an increase.

Non-domestic Rates

baroness mcintosh of pickering: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the appeals procedure against a proposed increase in rateable value; and what estimate they have made of the average length of time which will be required for an appeal to be considered.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: A ratepayer that wishes to appeal in relation to their rateable value has the right to make a proposal to Valuation Office Agency. If it is not resolved, the proposal is considered by the Valuation Tribunal for England as an appeal. The Government will introduce a new appeals system from April 2017 which streamlines the process and promotes early engagement by all parties to help resolve cases quickly. However, the time required for resolving appeals will depend on the complexity of the issues in any particular case.

HM Treasury

London Stock Exchange: Deutsche Borse

lord stoddart of swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the remarks of Thomas Schäfer, finance minister of Hesse, that the headquarters of the company created by the proposed merger of the London Stock Exchange Group and Deutsche Börse should be in Frankfurt, what assessment they have made of the impact on the UK economy of the transfer of that organisation from the UK to Germany.

baroness neville-rolfe: Under the terms of the proposed merger the new combined company will be located in London. The merger has been approved by shareholders of both companies on these terms. In the UK the Bank of England and Financial Conduct Authority will assess the proposal from a regulatory standpoint. The proposal is also subject to outstanding assessments and approvals by the European Commission and overseas regulators.

Motor Vehicles: Taxation

lord stoddart of swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their most up-to-date figure for the annual amount paid in respect of motorised vehicles in (1) Vehicle Excise Duty, (2) fuel taxes, (3) VAT, and (4) other government-imposed charges.

baroness neville-rolfe: Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) raised £5.6bn in the fiscal year 2015-16. The Heavy Goods Vehicle VED Levy raised £198m in 2015-16. Of this figure, £50m accounts for non-UK HGV Levy and £148m for UK HGV Levy. Fuel duty raised £27.6bn in 2015-16. The Government does not have any figures for VAT raised in respect of motorised vehicles. This is because the details that HMRC collect from taxpayers are not specific enough to provide that data. The only further government charge is the Dartford Crossing Charge, which yielded £133.6m in revenue in 2015-16.

Companies

lord wills: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many enforcement actions have been taken against Trust and Company Service Providers by HM Revenue and Customs since 1 January 2014 under the following categories: (1) criminal prosecutions, (2) fit and proper rejection, (3) suspension, (4) fines imposed, (5) reprimands, (6) undertakings, (7) conditions placed, (8) warnings given, and (9) action plans required.

baroness neville-rolfe: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) supervises businesses across seven sectors under the Money Laundering Regulations, including those Trust or Company Service Providers not already supervised by other bodies.HMRC does not publish enforcement information broken down by sector as this could prejudice the prevention and detection of crime. HM Treasury publishes aggregate details of HMRC’s enforcement actions in its annual “Anti-money laundering and counter terrorist finance supervision report”.

Cabinet Office

Tax Avoidance: Luxembourg

lord harries of pentregarth: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Young of Cookham on 28 December 2016 (HL4016), and in the light of the involvement of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the LuxLeaks trials in Luxembourg and the reported pressure placed upon one of the LuxLeaks whistle-blowers to sign a secrecy agreement, whether they intend to desist from conducting any further Government business with PwC.

lord young of cookham: As stated in my response of 21 December 2016 (HL4016), the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 ensures that workers who raise concerns of wrongdoing to their employer or a relevant external body (by making what is known as a ‘protected disclosure’) and suffer detriment as a result may seek redress through an Employment Tribunal.When a finding of unlawful practices has been made against the organisation at a Employment Tribunal, a public body may exclude that organisation from participation in a procurement procedure. This is laid out in the discretionary exclusion grounds of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Such a finding has not been made against PwC as a result of the LuxLeaks trials.

Department for International Trade

Overseas Trade: Israeli Settlements

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 14 November 2016 (HL2849) concerning illegal settlement construction by Israelis, what measures they are putting in place to ensure that further trade between the UK and illegal settlements is prohibited.

lord price: The UK and Israel have a strong and important trading relationship and we are firmly opposed to boycotts or sanctions. We do not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the settlements, as part of Israel and they are not covered by the current EU-Israel Association Agreement which governs our trade with Israel.It is up to individual businesses whether they undertake business dealings with companies operating in illegal settlements. The Government neither supports nor encourages such dealings. The FCO advises businesses on the risks of so doing.

Department of Health

Accident and Emergency Departments: Geriatrics

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to expand the Better Care Fund to enable investment in geriatrician posts based in A&E Departments, to reduce admissions and the likelihood of readmission.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Better Care Fund (BCF), first announced in Spending Round 2013 and implemented from 2015-16, is the first national, mandatory integration policy. The total size of the Fund has increased from £5.3 billion in 2015-16 to approaching £6 billion in 2016-17. The mandated minimum is also rising each year up to 2019-20. BCF plans are agreed in local areas to pay for services that support a more integrated approach to health and social care that will benefit their population. The policy framework for the BCF includes some minimum requirements for investment in out of hospital National Health Service services and maintaining funding from clinical commissioning groups to social care. Beyond this, and as long as it is consistent with the aims of the plan, areas can agree to fund work in hospitals that supports the wider aims of the Fund to reduce emergency hospital admissions, delays in discharge and admissions to care homes. This could include investment in geriatrician posts based in accident and emergency departments if partners agree this locally.

Chronic Illnesses

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that patients with long-term conditions are given the opportunity to develop personalised care plans with the healthcare professionals delivering their care.

lord o'shaughnessy: Personalised care planning is an important tool in empowering patients with long term conditions (LTCs) to take control of, and make decisions about, their care. Care planning continues to be promoted by NHS England through the Coalition for Collaborative care; an alliance of people and organisations committed to making person-centred, collaborative care the norm. In partnership with the Coalition, NHS England produced tools and guidance to support clinicians and commissioners to embed care planning locally, including around population risk-stratification to help identify those patients who could benefit most from a personalised care planning approach. Personalised care plans are also an important feature of the clinical guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which set out best practice in the management of LTCs. They also form the basis of a Personal Health Budget (PHB), and NHS England is working to ensure that between 50,000 and 100,000 people will benefit from a PHB by March 2021. Care plans are also an important element of NHS England’s self-care programme, and in July 2016 NHS England agreed a deal to grant 1.8 million people with LTCs across 27 areas access to the Patient Activation Measure (PAM). The PAM is a validated tool which captures the extent to which people feel engaged and confident in taking care of their health, helping professionals to tailor support to meet their needs using approaches such as care planning.

HIV Infection

lord black of brentwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the last five years, how many new HIV diagnoses have been classified as "late diagnosis".

lord o'shaughnessy: A late HIV diagnosis is defined as having a CD4 cell count less than 350 cells/mm3 within three months (91 days) of diagnosis. The following table shows the number of adults (aged 15 years and above) diagnosed with a CD4 count less than 350 cells/mm3 within 91 days of diagnosis in the United Kingdom in 2011 - 2015. The data for 2016 are due to be published in October 2017. Year20112012201320142015Number with CD4 cell count less than 350 cells/mm32,6242,4492,1322,1151,958 Source: National HIV Surveillance data tables, 2016

Health Services: Older People

baroness hollins: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the report by the British Medical Association Growing Older in the UK.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Government welcomes the British Medical Association’s report Growing Older in the UK. Supporting people to continue to play an active role in society as they grow older is a priority for Government and the report’s findings will be taken into account in relevant policy development work.

Health Services: Older People

baroness hollins: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce health inequalities amongst older people.

lord o'shaughnessy: Public Health England’s (PHE) older people and dementia work programme uses a range of approaches to help reduce inequalities amongst older people. These include: influencing and commissioning research evidence, publishing resources and tools to support improved commissioning by local authorities and the National Health Service, pilot programmes, collaborating with a range of third sector organisations who are working in the field, and advising the Department. The NHS Health Check programme aims to target the major causes of premature death, ill health and inequalities in England. Since April 2013, almost five million people aged 40-74 have benefitted from this service. Evidence suggests that the greatest uptake is seen in more deprived communities and older adults. PHE works closely with local areas to tackle health inequalities. For example, PHE is supporting local authorities to respond to the needs of older drug and alcohol users, particularly an ageing group who are experiencing poor physical and mental health and are more susceptible to alcohol or drug related death.

Social Services

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Care Quality Commission de-registrations have taken place in each of the last three years for which figures are available, of (1) nursing homes, (2) residential care homes, and (3) domiciliary care services; and how many beds were involved in relation to categories (1) and (2).

lord o'shaughnessy: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has provided the following information: The total number of nursing homes, residential homes and domiciliary care service locations1 active as at 31 December 2014, 31 December 2015 and 31 December 2016 is as follows:  Nursing HomeResidential HomeDomiciliary care serviceDateNumber of LocationsNumber of BedsNumber of LocationsNumber of BedsNumber of Locations31 December 20144,609221,89912,563246,3717,73731 December 20154,550220,41212,280242,8858,03631 December 20164,518221,52311,978239,5038,189Note: Service types and bed numbers can change over time. Numbers presented here use the service types/bed numbers applicable in the database at 10 February 2017. 1 A location can have multiple service types and so some locations could be counted in both the care home (nursing or residential) and domiciliary care service columns.Care homes with both the 'Care home services with nursing' and 'Care home services without nursing' service types have been categorised as a 'Nursing home'; those with only the 'Care home service without nursing' as 'Residential home'. Number of nursing homes, residential homes and domiciliary care service locations2 that have de-registered per year from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2016 and number of beds in the homes: Nursing homeResidential homeDomiciliary care serviceYear of De-registrationNumber of LocationsNumber of bedsNumber of LocationsNumber of bedsNumber of Locations20142328,99299514,7421,437201530714,47893817,3561,594201637017,4511,01117,7571,812Total90940,9212,94449,8554,843 Source: CQC database as at 9 February 2017. The majority of de-registrations are initiated by the service providers and are not due to CQC enforcement activity. The figures provided represent the number of locations that have been de-registered. In some cases, these will be true closures where the location is no longer open or operating. In others however, it may be that the location has appeared to close when in fact the service continues, but under new registration due to a legal entity change or a change in the provider. This means that the number of de-registrations should not be used as an indication of the total number of locations. 2A location can have multiple service types and so some locations could be counted in both the care home (nursing or residential) and domiciliary care service columns.Care homes with both the 'Care home services with nursing' and 'Care home services without nursing' service types have been categorised as a 'Nursing home'; those with only the 'Care home service without nursing' as 'Residential home'.

Social Services

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for the year to 31 December 2016, how many contracts for (1) nursing home places, (2) residential care home places, and (3) domiciliary care services, were handed back to local authorities in England with responsibility for adult social care; and in which local authorities that happened.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Department does not collect detailed information about local contracting. Commissioning high quality social care is the responsibility of local government which is best placed to understand the needs of local people and communities, and how best to meet them. Local authorities have legal duties to facilitate effective local markets, supporting people to have choice. The Department supports local authorities in meeting their market shaping duties when commissioning services and provides further support and guidance through sector-led improvement programmes. The Department has worked with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Local Government Association, the care sector and other partners to produce a wide range of guidance and support about market shaping and commissioning. We have brought this together in an online hub called Adult Social Care Market Shaping, which is an online only resource, widely available to people and organisations, including local authorities, service users, and care providers. Where a care provider ‘hands back’ a contract to a local authority, the authority remains responsible for meeting the needs of people who previously had services provided under the contract and for arranging replacement services. Where a care provider fails financially and services cease, potentially abruptly, the local authority has duties under the Care Act 2014 to step in and ensure people’s needs continue to be met, regardless of who pays.

Social Services

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether local authorities continue to provide services to all the clients involved when a registered provider of adult social care hands back a contract; and what assessment has been made of the additional cost local authorities may incur when such contracts are handed back.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Department does not collect detailed information about local contracting. Commissioning high quality social care is the responsibility of local government which is best placed to understand the needs of local people and communities, and how best to meet them. Local authorities have legal duties to facilitate effective local markets, supporting people to have choice. The Department supports local authorities in meeting their market shaping duties when commissioning services and provides further support and guidance through sector-led improvement programmes. The Department has worked with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Local Government Association, the care sector and other partners to produce a wide range of guidance and support about market shaping and commissioning. We have brought this together in an online hub called Adult Social Care Market Shaping, which is an online only resource, widely available to people and organisations, including local authorities, service users, and care providers. Where a care provider ‘hands back’ a contract to a local authority, the authority remains responsible for meeting the needs of people who previously had services provided under the contract and for arranging replacement services. Where a care provider fails financially and services cease, potentially abruptly, the local authority has duties under the Care Act 2014 to step in and ensure people’s needs continue to be met, regardless of who pays.

Social Services

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many new Care Quality Commission registrations of (1) nursing homes, (2) residential care homes, and (3) domiciliary services, have taken place in each of the last three 12-month periods for which figures are available; and how many beds were involved in relation to categories (1) and (2).

lord o'shaughnessy: The Care Quality Commission has provided the following information:The total number of nursing homes, residential homes and domiciliary care service locations1 active as at 31 December 2014, 31 December 2015 and 31 December 2016 was as follows: Nursing HomeResidential HomeDomiciliary care serviceDateNumber of LocationsNumber of BedsNumber of LocationsNumber of BedsNumber of Locations31 December 20144,609221,89912,563246,3717,73731 December 20154,550220,41212,280242,8858,03631 December 20164,518221,52311,978239,5038,189Note: Service types and bed numbers can change over time. Numbers presented here use the service types/bed numbers applicable in the database at 10 February 2017.1 A location can have multiple service types and so some locations could be counted in both the care home (nursing or residential) and domiciliary care service columns.Care homes with both the 'Care home services with nursing' and 'Care home services without nursing' service types have been categorised as a 'Nursing home'; those with only the 'Care home service without nursing' as 'Residential home.’Number of nursing homes, residential homes and domiciliary care service locations2 that have been registered per year from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2016 and number of beds in the homes: Nursing homeResidential homeDomiciliary care serviceYear of ActivationNumber of LocationsNumber of bedsNumber of LocationsNumber of bedsNumber of Locations201426512,56075512,1781,683201524812,99165513,8701,893201633818,56270914,3751,965Total85144,1132,11940,4235,541Note: A location that registered in the period, may have since been de-registered.2A location can have multiple service types and so some locations could be counted in both the care home (nursing or residential) and domiciliary care service columns.Care homes with both the 'Care home services with nursing' and 'Care home services without nursing' service types have been categorised as a 'Nursing home'; those with only the 'Care home service without nursing' as 'Residential home.’

Social Services

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the supply of providers of publicly-funded adult social care is included as an issue on the Department of Health risk register, and if so, how seriously this issue is rated.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Department does not release details of risk registers that support policy making and delivery. We monitor the capacity of the social care system and are aware of pressures, but have not seen a significant decline in the supply of care providers. The Care Act (2014) placed duties on local authorities making them responsible for ensuring there is an effective pool of quality providers of social care in their area with capacity to meet the needs of their local population. The Department is supporting local authorities to influence their local market through improved market facilitation and commissioning to ensure that local markets are effective. The Department has worked with Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Local Government Association, the care sector and other partners to produce a wide range of guidance and support about market shaping and commissioning. This is available in an online hub called Adult Social Care Market Shaping, which is an online only resource. The Department continues to monitor capacity and effectiveness of the market.

Social Services

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many elderly people in the UK presently require social care; what is their estimate of the increase in the number of elderly people requiring social care over the next 10 years; and what is both their short-term and long-term strategy to address the provision of social care for the elderly.

lord o'shaughnessy: Social care is a means tested service. The Care Act 2014 requires that local authorities must assess any adult who appears to have a care and support need. If a person has eligible care needs and meets the means test criteria the local authority must arrange a package of care. The latest available data suggests that: - 200,000 packages of short term care were provided in 2015-16 by local authorities; and- 400,000 elderly people were receiving long term care funded by their local authority on 31 March 2016. The Personal Social Services Research Unit estimates that this number will increase to 500,000 by 2025, and 590,000 by 2030. (These demand projections cover long term care only). NHS Digital publishes a report on the social care activity of Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities in England. A copy of Community Care Statistics, Social Services Activity, England, 2015-16 is attached. The Care Act received Royal Assent in May 2014. The Act sets out the legislative framework for the most significant and far-reaching programme of reform in adult social care undertaken since 1948. It is having a profound impact on the way the system works, the responsibilities of local government and partners, and the rights, outcomes and experience of people who need care, carers and their families. The first phase of the Care Act implemented, from April 2015, saw the introduction of a large number of reforms including establishing a new statutory “wellbeing principle” and a national minimum eligibility threshold for care and support.



Community Care Statistics
(PDF Document, 573.35 KB)

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

baroness thomas of winchester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take to ensure that the European Health Insurance Card will continue to be valid for UK citizens in EU countries after the UK leaves the EU.

lord o'shaughnessy: As the Prime Minister stated on 20 July 2016, as long as we are a member of the European Union we will respect the rights and obligations of EU membership, therefore the current arrangements for European Health Insurance Cards remain in place. Officials in both the Department of Health and the Department for Exiting the European Union are considering the position and options available to us with the aim of achieving the best outcome for the United Kingdom health system and for the UK as a whole. We are about to begin these negotiations and it would be wrong to set out unilateral positions in advance.

Social Services

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent they have taken into account changes in (1) the number of social care bed spaces provided, and (2) local demand for social care bed spaces, in determining the requirements for adult social care provision throughout England.

lord o'shaughnessy: Residential care is largely provided by an independent sector of care homes and nursing homes who respond to local demand. The Care Act 2014 placed duties on local authorities to facilitate local markets, articulating likely changes to supply and demand in a Market Position Statement (or equivalent) and engaging with local providers to encourage a local pool of provider organisations that allows people a choice of quality organisations. Local authorities are best placed to understand the changing needs of their citizens and communities. The Department supports local authorities in meeting their market shaping duties when commissioning services and provides further support and guidance through sector-led improvement programmes. The Department has worked with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Local Government Association, the care sector and other partners to produce a wide range of guidance and support about market shaping and commissioning. We have brought this together in an online hub called Adult Social Care Market Shaping, which is an online only resource, widely available to people and organisations, including local authorities, service users, and care providers.